Some UAB boosters say trustees are exploring idea of stopping football team

Are people affiliated with UAB looking at options for the UAB football team that include ending it in the near future? According to UAB boosters, they are.

In a letter to the university’s president, boosters, including Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White, a former UAB player, say that the Alabama system trustees are doing a study looking at the football program’s viability.

From the letter, which was first published at Underdog Dynasty:

It is our understanding that you are awaiting the results of a “study” being conducted to determine whether to continue the UAB Football Program. We are also aware that a potential contract extension for Coach Clark as well as the scheduling out of conference games past 2016 has been placed on hold. In the B Club’s opinion, delaying long overdue capital improvements and Coach Clark’s contract extension would potentially jeopardize the future of our football program. As you are aware, to lose football is to lose conference affiliation and to lose conference affiliation means that basketball and the rest of our outstanding sports programs would be relegated to the lower echelons of the NCAA. These thoughts are unacceptable and we know your leadership will not allow such drastic and unbeneficial decisions to be made.

UAB’s football team has undergone a turnaround in 2014 in coach Bill Clark’s first season. The Blazers are 5-4 so far with three games remaining. UAB had five wins combined in 2012 and 2013. UAB is currently a member of Conference USA and plays at Legion Field in Birmingham.

Because of that improvement, the letter focuses on the positive aspects a football team can have on a college campus and the boosters would like the school to have an on-campus practice facility.

Justin Craft, who also signed the letter, told Al.com that shutting down the team was a “strong thought” after meeting with UAB president Ray Watts on Friday. The study is being conducted by UAB administration and not UAB athletics.

From Al.com:

Did Watts tell the group that the study could lead to an administrative decision to drop football?

“I did not get a definitive answer on that, but it was definitely a strong thought after coming out of that meeting that that could be a possibility.” Craft said.

“They’re going to make strategic decisions in the athletic department based on the research in this study,” Craft said. “What was said to us (by Dr. Watts) is that it’s hard to be all things to all people and good at everything, and that from this study there may be specific focuses within the athletic department.”